Para sport Notebook: Jocelyn Jay to lead Swimming Canada’s Paralympic Program as Associate High Performance Director

Swimming Canada named Jocelyn Jay as Associate Director, High Performance, Paralympic Program late last week.

A former national team swimmer and NCAA All-American at Ohio State University, Jay has worked with Swimming Canada since 2018. In her new position, Jay will direct and lead all areas of Swimming Canada’s Paralympic Program.

“I’m honoured to step into this role and build on the incredible work that’s been done,” Jay said. “It’s a privilege to lead Canada’s Paralympic program, and one I approach with purpose and pride. I’m committed to building for performance by investing in the people: our athletes, coaches, and the daily environments that support them.”

Jay was team leader for the 2019 Parapan American Games and served as events manager, ensuring that the competition, classification, logistical, and accessibility needs of Para swimmers, their coaches, and support staff were fully embedded into national events.

“Jocelyn brings strong experience in both the Para swimming and sport development spaces and is well positioned to lead the program on the road to LA 2028 and beyond,” said John Atkinson, Swimming Canada’s High Performance Director. “After a time of change, we’re excited about the opportunity for renewed stability and progress within the program.”

Canada’s sitting volleyball teams fourth at Dutch Tournament

Canada’s men’s and women’s sitting volleyball teams both placed fourth at the annual Dutch tournament held on the weekend in Assen.

The women’s team, with five members from the Paralympic Games squad which won bronze in Paris, earned a win and three losses in the preliminary round and split its two playoff round matches.

The Netherlands and Italy were also 1-1 in the playoffs and positions were decided on points for. USA, Netherlands and Italy were 1-2-3.

The Canadian men advanced to the bronze medal game and fell to Poland in straight sets. The U.S. beat Turkey for the gold. Canada was 2-1 in the prelims.

Photo Roelof Lutgers, Dutch Tournament

Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games champion among 77-member inaugural class into BC Curling Hall of Fame

Sonja Gaudet, Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest and Daryl Neighbour, all members of Canada’s 2010 Paralympic Games champion team, are among the 77-member inaugural class into the BC Curling Hall of Fame.

Gaudet and three-time world champion Bernie Sparkes are the only two inductees from the class immortalized in the World Curling Hall of Fame, Canadian Curling Hall of Fame, BC Sports Hall of Fame and now BC Curling Hall of Fame.

Canada’s most decorated wheelchair curler, Gaudet also won Paralympic gold medals at Turin 2006 and Sochi 2014. The Vernon, B.C., resident is also among the rare Canadians featured on a Canada Post stamp, celebrating her status as one of the nation’s all-time great Paralympians.

Forrest, from Spallumcheen,  is still a national team member and is vying for a fifth Paralympic Winter Games appearance in 2026.

Armstrong, from Victoria, skipped Canada to Paralympic gold in both 2010 and 2014.Neighbour, from Richmond, was on the 2006 Games champion squad.

Canadians post sixth place finishes at Prefontaine Classic

In Eugene, Oregon, blade runner Marissa Papaconstantinou of Toronto and Nandina Sharma of Brampton, Ont., both posted sixth place finishes at the Prefontaine Classic track and field competition.

Papaconstantinou, a three-time Paralympian who won bronze at the 2020 Games, competed in the women’s mixed class 100m sprint. Sharma was in the women’s T54 800m wheelchair race.

The prestigious event on the Grand Prix circuit, celebrating its 50^th anniversary,  added four Para events this year to the program.

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Canmore Nordic Centre to host two World Cups this winter

The road to Milano Cortina starts at home for Canada’s powerful Para nordic team.

The Canmore Nordic Centre hosts two World Cups in December. The FIS Para cross country World Cup is set for December 2-7 and it will be followed by the IBU Para biathlon World Cup December 11-14.

Earlier this season, Nordiq Canada announced its national team for the 2025-26 season. Named were Mark Arendz of Hartsville, P.E.I, Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., Collin Cameron of Sudbury, Ont., Derek Zaplotinsky of Smoky Lake, Alta.,  and Brittany Hudak of Prince Albert, Sask.

“It’s a big deal for us as a national team to have this opportunity,” Canada’s head coach Brian McKeever told the Rocky Mountain Outlook. “And it gives us a chance to bring more people to a World Cup and give them the experience and try and get as many people qualified for the Games as we have quota spots.”

At the last World Cup held in Canmore in December 2021, a couple of months before the Beijing Games, Canada collected 17 medals (nine gold, five silver and three bronze.

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